Study links Pill with depression

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Women taking the oral contraceptive pill are almost twice as
likely to have depression as those not taking it, according to a
pilot study at The Alfred hospital.

Researchers hope the findings will alert women and doctors to
the possibility that women could be affected emotionally by the
pill, but caution that a larger study is needed to fully examine
its impact.

Looking at 62 women - half of whom were taking the combined
contraceptive pill (oestrogen and progesterone) - researchers found
that those on the pill had twice the symptoms of depression of the
control group. None of the women had a history of depression.

Levels of depression were assessed by the women themselves, and
by an interviewer, at two-month intervals.

The women taking the pill had a depression rating of 17.6
compared with 9.8 in the non-user group.

"To our surprise, on re-interview, we found that women who were
on the pill had higher levels of depression than women who were not
on the pill, and it was significantly higher," said Jayashri
Kulkarni, director of The Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre.

She said a larger study now planned would investigate what role
the type of pill, duration of use and dosage levels might play.

Of the two hormones in the combined pill, progesterone was most
likely to lower mood, Professor Kulkarni said, but the two needed
to be studied separately to isolate their effects. "There is a
possibility that it could be triggering the brain chemicals, or
there is a possibility that it might be . . . bringing out a latent
vulnerability to depression," she said.

About one in four Australian women aged 18 to 49 take the pill,
and about one in four adult women have depression.

Professor Kulkarni described the level of depression found in
women taking the pill in the study as "moderately severe".

It could be triggering the brain chemicals, or . . . a latent vulnerability.JAYASHRI KULKARNI, researcher

Symptoms of depression include constant low mood or sadness, a
loss of enjoyment in life, a change in appetite, sleep disturbance,
guilt feelings, anger, or difficulty concentrating.

She said women's moods also varied according to the stage of
their menstrual cycle, even on the pill, with the week before the
start of their period having the biggest impact on mood.

She hoped the findings would alert women and doctors to the
possibility of psychological side-effects to the pill.

Beyondblue clinical adviser Ian Hickie said the relationship
between hormones and mood was complex.

He said women should not abruptly stop taking the pill, but see
their doctors if they had been feeling down.